Thiel Audio announced this week that it will introduce a new loudspeaker system – the TT1 – at the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas in January. Calling it an “ultimate performance three-way loudspeaker,” the announcement is the first major launch since the current management team was put in place earlier this year.
Manufacturers
ICE Cable Selects EMI to Represent Brand in Michigan
Specialty cable manufacturer ICE Cable Systems announced this week that it has selected veteran Michigan sales representative company Electrical Materials, Inc. (EMI) to represent its line in Michigan, the Great Lakes State. EMI, a unique mixture of electrical component distribution and custom integration AV sales representative company, is well known throughout the region.
See more on this new partnership… [Read more…] about ICE Cable Selects EMI to Represent Brand in Michigan
Having Dumped Everything Else, Pioneer Makes Plans to Dominate Car Electronics
About the AV biz? Hoping Onkyo Keeps the Pioneer Name…
Pioneer Corporation
In a revealing interview with the Nikkei in Tokyo, Pioneer Corp. President Susumu Kotani said that Pioneer – after spending several months selling off all of its divisions other than automotive – is considering resorting to acquisitions in order to build a dominant position within its chosen market. A radical shift after months of divestiture, he makes clear that the company is preparing to move to offense, in order to build a new – and expanded – future.
See more on the company’s plans – including just what areas Pioneer is considering entering… [Read more…] about Having Dumped Everything Else, Pioneer Makes Plans to Dominate Car Electronics
Sennheiser Launches Its Own Retail Stores, At Least Temporarily
The Sennheiser Group, a well-known manufacturer of headphones, microphones and wireless transmission systems, launched two “pop-up” stores – one in New York and another in San Francisco – this past weekend. Their purpose? To showcase Sennheiser products and to highlight its “efforts to increase consumer awareness on the benefits of premium sound.”
See more on Sennheiser’s foray into retail this holiday season… [Read more…] about Sennheiser Launches Its Own Retail Stores, At Least Temporarily
Despite Revenue Decline, JVC Kenwood Cuts Losses as Restructuring Takes Hold
JVC Kenwood Corp., the troubled consolidation of two struggling Japanese brands, seems to have turned a corner despite reporting fiscal Q2 and first half revenue declines and continuing losses. The company, which in January surprised many by announcing its decision to withdraw from the consumer electronics business to focus on B-to-B business, announced with pride that – although still showing a loss – the company has seen solid improvement in profits with dramatically reduced losses.
See more on this huge company in a big transition… [Read more…] about Despite Revenue Decline, JVC Kenwood Cuts Losses as Restructuring Takes Hold
Yamaha’s Fiscal First Half Results are Mixed
Yamaha Corporation released the results for its fiscal first semester or first half of the fiscal year 2015 (April 1, 2014 – September 30, 2014) with results generally positive, but mixed. Overall consolidated sales increased 4.4% to ¥206.4 billion ($1.9 billion) as compared to ¥197.7 billion ($1.8 billion) in the same period last year. But of some concern is the fact that only one of its four major business segments showed an increase in operating profits – and two of the four lost money during the period.
See more on Yamaha’s financial performance… [Read more…] about Yamaha’s Fiscal First Half Results are Mixed
Nortek Releases Q3 Results; Has AV Turned a Corner?
Nortek, Inc., a diversified manufacturer of commercial and residential products largely targeted towards the new construction business, announced on Monday the financial results of the third quarter of their current fiscal year. Overall, the results were mostly positive, although two of their business units saw revenues decline in the quarter. Surprise…surprise…neither of them were the newly designated AVC (Audio Video Control) segment, as you (and we) might have suspected.
AVC showed a sales increase. Does this mean AVC has turned a corner in results?… [Read more…] about Nortek Releases Q3 Results; Has AV Turned a Corner?
You Knew It Was Dying, But LG Makes It Official – Plasma is Dead
Yesterday in South Korea, LG Electronics made formal what we all knew was coming – they are ending production of all plasma display panel products. Even though we knew it was coming, somehow…it still hurts. We’ve had many an engineer tell us the plasma was the most accurate picture available – many saying they own it themselves. Certainly, they are sure to be ruing this day.
See more on this dramatic – and somewhat sad – announcement from LG… [Read more…] about You Knew It Was Dying, But LG Makes It Official – Plasma is Dead
Is Beta Better? Yamaha Launches First Earphones with Beta-Titanium Tubes
Yamaha Corp. announced today that it has launched a new line of earphones that includes a model with what it claims is the “world’s first” to use a beta-titanium sound tube. Yamaha’s EPH-M200 also features a “large-caliber” or diameter driver for better quality sound – and features a striking design available in three different colors.
Learn more about this unique new series of earphones from Yamaha… [Read more…] about Is Beta Better? Yamaha Launches First Earphones with Beta-Titanium Tubes
In First Step of Transformation, Thiel Terminates Reps
In a notice emailed to dealers last Thursday sporting a spiffy new corporate logo, Thiel took what appears to be the first step in what is promised to be a stream of “regular communications from us” regarding the company’s transformation from a legendary audiophile loudspeaker brand to a…well to what, we just don’t know yet. But what we do know is that the company has begun this transformation by terminating its entire national independent sales representative sales force.
See what Thiel told dealers was the reason for terminating their local sales rep…
[Read more…] about In First Step of Transformation, Thiel Terminates Reps
